ENROLLED
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 94
BY REPRESENTATIVE KNOX
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To express the condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the death of Kenneth
"Biggy" Johnston.
WHEREAS, it is with immense sadness and profound regret that the Legislature of
Louisiana has learned of the death of Kenneth "Biggy" Johnston; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Johnston was drafted to serve his country during the Vietnam War,
and upon his return to Louisiana, he and many of his fellow Vietnam veterans struggled with
post-traumatic stress disorder and substance addiction; and
WHEREAS, Biggy's addiction struggles continued until his incarceration at
Louisiana State Penitentiary in 1974; while incarcerated, he educated himself on the legal
and court systems with the goal of assisting individuals in navigating the court system with
various matters including filing petitions against nonunanimous jury convictions; and
WHEREAS, Biggy cofounded the Angola Special Civics Project with Norris
Henderson, and in 1990, the group worked with the Legislature of Louisiana to pass Act
No. 790, which created the first "lifer parole" law; and
WHEREAS, Biggy was released as a result of the project he helped start, and he
found employment as a paralegal in New Orleans; in 2003 the Angola Special Civics Project
was reconvened outside of prison, under the new moniker "Voice of the Experienced"
(VOTE), to organize, educate, and mobilize those impacted by the state's incarceration
policies; and
WHEREAS, more than a decade later, in 2016, Biggy was named the lead plaintiff
in VOTE v. Louisiana; the lawsuit sought to restore voting rights for tens of thousands of
Louisianians; and
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WHEREAS, Biggy played an even more pivotal role in the passage of Act No. 636
of the 2018 Regular Session of the Legislature, which restored the voting rights to people
on probation and those on parole for over five years, including himself; and
WHEREAS, Biggy participated in the Non-Unanimous Jury Coalition, which helped
win the passage of an amendment to the state constitution ending the practice under which
he was convicted; he lived to see VOTE establish three chapters, massively increase its staff,
open multiple reentry house locations, play a pivotal role in criminal justice reform, receive
national recognition, launch the Formerly Incarcerated Transition Clinic, and purchase its
own facility; and
WHEREAS, Kenneth "Biggy" Johnston leaves to cherish his memory his VOTE
family, his peer support group, his loving siblings, and his children; he was a genuinely kind,
generous, and cheerful man who, despite his small stature, possessed more than enough heart
to justify his nickname; he will be deeply missed but certainly never forgotten.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
express heartfelt condolences on the death of Kenneth "Biggy" Johnston and does hereby
extend sincerest wishes that his family, friends, and loved ones find comfort in their shared
memories of his beautiful life.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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